Photo courtesy of Matthew Hamilton

The Winnipeg Rifles have high expectations coming into this season after a successful campaign in 2022 which included a couple of very important wins for the franchise.

They will open their Spring Camp on May 8 and do expect to have another massive turnout attending.  In the past they have averaged over 100 players and this year should be no different. 

Last season the Rifles finished 4-4 and pushed the eventual champion Regina Thunder to the brink in a 23-14 semi-final loss to end their year.   Their defence was solid all season and finished with a Conference high +10 in the turnover category and led the way with 10 fumble recoveries. 

The coaching staff will assess their new crop of players all week during Spring Camp and will finish with the always exciting scrimmage on Saturday.  There have been times in the past where a job has been won or lost during scrimmage, so players know there is plenty on the line. 

They will open the season on the road on Sunday August 13 when they face the Edmonton Huskies before their home opener a week later when they welcome the Saskatoon Hilltops. 
 

It will be a busy CJFL weekend across the country as six teams will open their 2023 Spring Camp. 

The Edmonton Huskies are the first this weekend to kick-off, which they will on Thursday.  The Huskies are coming off a season that saw them finish 5-3 and in third place in the Prairie Conference.  They fell to the Saskatoon Hilltops in the Prairie Conference playoffs ending their campaign. 

This Spring Camp is the Huskies first step in replacing the multi-talented Alex Gayle who has now graduated from the program. Last season he was their primary threat rushing for 923 yards on 150 carries and scored 10 touchdowns.  He was named the Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year and will be very difficult to replace.

The Huskies open the regular season on Sunday August 13 when they host the Winnipeg Rifles.

The defending Prairie Conference champion Regina Thunder will open their camp on Friday after several indoor winter sessions. The coaching staff have some very important decisions to make heading into this season after the graduation of a number of key pieces. 

Over the last two seasons the Thunder haven’t lost a regular season game and are looking to come out of the gate strong once again in 2023.  Their final game last year ended in heartbreak, losing the Canadian Bowl on their home turf after leading at halftime. 

Once again, the Thunder expect a large turnout of players to attend this weekend as they begin preparation to open the new campaign on the road on Sunday August 13th when they visit the Calgary Colts. 

The Saskatoon Hilltops open their Spring Camp on Friday with another large contingent of players expected.  Their club has run a series of winter sessions, but now they get to head outdoors and evaluate their players on the big field. 

The Toppers once again have high hopes coming into the regular season after falling in the Prairie Conference title game a year ago.  

No doubt this coaching staff and the returning players are ready to buckle up and get back to their championship winning ways.   They will open the regular season at home on Sunday August 13 when they host the Edmonton Wildcats. 

Speaking of the Wildcats, they are another CJFL team that opens Spring Camp this weekend.  

This will be first under new head coach Kevin Wuthrich as they look to try and improve off their winless record from last season. 

The Wildcats are expecting a big turnout this weekend even though they are completing with their crosstown rivals the Edmonton Huskies who are holding camp at the same time.

Over in the BC Conference the Langley Rams open Spring Camp this weekend under new head coach Jordan McCarty.  The former quarterback of the Rams rejoins the club and will look to bring them back to their playoff winning ways.  The Rams are just two seasons removed from their Canadian Bowl championship in 2021. 

Last season the Rams finished 5-5 and made an early exit in the playoffs, but it did give their returning players a taste of the CJFL post season.   Offensively last year they did struggle to score points, so it will be interesting to see how a former quarterback can bring life back into the Rams. 

They will open the 2023 season on Saturday July 29 when they visit the Valley Huskers. 

The Kamloops Broncos begin their march back to the postseason this weekend when they open Spring Camp.  

Traditionally the Broncos have a very solid showing of players, and this weekend should be no different as the club has recruited several top-notch athletes.  The coaching staff will see the fruits of their labour as they hit beautiful Hillside Stadium beginning on Friday, then finishing off on Sunday with a live scrimmage. 

Last season the Broncos just missed the playoffs by one win, something that will no doubt motivate their returning players when they open the schedule on the road at Westshore on August 5th.  As a matter of fact, the Broncos actually open the season with five straight road games, then finish with five straight at home.